If you’re importing inventory from outside the European Union (EU) into the EU, you’re responsible for clearing customs and paying taxes and duties that apply to your inventory.
Think of Printful only as the warehousing service provider, your inventory remains in your possession and that’s why you’re responsible for customs clearance.
Customs clearance fees for importing inventory into Riga, Latvia and Barcelona, Spain include, but aren't limited to:
- taxes: VAT 21% of the total value of the items
- import duties: up to 3.5% (depends on the items)
- additional fees (may apply)
All international inventory shipments to our warehouses in Riga and Barcelona must arrive clear of customs fees, so when you register the shipment with your carrier:
- mark it as Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)
- list yourself or your company as the Importer of Record (Receiver of Goods) and list Printful only as the delivery location
- attach a commercial invoice, shipping label/invoice/bill, and power of attorney (if applicable)
To list yourself as the importer, you must have your business registered in the EU or be physically present in the country where you’re importing inventory.
Before you mail the inventory, you must also attach the commercial invoice, shipping label/invoice/bill, and power of attorney (if applicable) to the outside of your shipment packaging.
Commercial invoice
Commercial invoice is a legal document for customs clearance purposes issued by the exporter (you or a third-party manufacturer) to the importer (also you). All shipping carriers have their commercial invoice forms to submit with shipments. To learn more about commercial invoices and download a blank invoice, see the customs documentation on FedEx.
When filling the commercial invoice, make sure to:
- mark yourself or the third-party manufacturer as the exporter
- put your EU-registered business in the consignee and sold to/importer fields
- write Printful’s warehouse location in the consignee address field only
- mark Exporter in the Duties and Taxes Payable by field or DDP in Terms of Sale/Incoterms fields
- state the material your items are made from, and if it’s fabric, state the sq. m of fabric used in the Description of goods field
- state the retail price (can’t be 0) you paid for your items in the Unit Value and Total Value fields
- add the Harmonized Tariff code/number
Shipping label/invoice/bill
Shipping label/invoice/bill is a type of identification document that describes what’s inside the shipment. Please make sure the shipping document you use will include an Incoterm.
Incoterms are a series of predefined terms to communicate tasks, costs, and risks associated with the delivery of your inventory. Since you’re responsible for clearing customs and covering import duties and taxes, mark your shipment with the DDP Incoterm.
Power of attorney (if applicable)
If your inventory’s customs clearance will be handled by a customs broker or the carrier, you must present a power of attorney which is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in business. To find a broker that’d help with clearing customs, get in touch with the carrier you'll use for shipping your inventory.
If your inventory shipment doesn’t meet the requirements described above, we may refuse the shipment or require additional information to process it.
We suggest shipping inventory with FedEx or DHL carriers as they provide clear guidelines for international shipments and required documents. You can also clear customs yourself by consulting directly with the State Revenue Service (Latvia) or the Tax Agency (Spain).